At several points in her essay, Tan related anecdotes. In a country where English is the dominant language, all of the school lessons are taught in it. In fact, Tan uses the same tone in the beginning and end of her storythe reader starts at a homebase, sees the journey Tan is leading them on, and returns right back to where they started but with more insight than before. Language is a powerful tool, and our ability to use and understand it as humans is one of the main aspects that separate us from other species on Earth. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1. Whereas, for me at least, the answers on English tests were always a judgment call, a matter of opinion and personal experience. Award-winning novelist, short story writer, and essayist. \text { Who was John Wilkes Booth? } Learn. That was the language that helped shape the way I saw things, expressed things, made sense of. Explain the meaning of Tans title and how it relates to her own identity as both a Chinese American, a daughter, and a writer. When I was fifteen, she used to have me call people on the phone to pretend I was she. Two Kinds Summary - eNotes.com How does each have its own type of power? (para. << Each story holds a key to understanding her main argument points. Then evaluate her message. Enter your email address to subscribe to this site and receive notifications of new posts by email. Some visitors on a search for new healing substances (looks, look) at medicinal plants. Mother tongue is usually referred to the first language a person is taught, however I think Tans use of the word mother tongue is much more intimate in a sense that she feels that ere English or her mother tongue is unique to her, and that the variation of English she speaks to her mother is her mother tongue. Tan believed that her mother's English reflected the quality of what she had to say-that the imperfections in her speech meant that her ideas were just as imperfect. 2. Tan acknowledges that, whilst she did well in maths and science, subjects with a single correct answer, she was less adept at English. Answers will vary but should include points similar to the following: a. Tan includes the story to give readers an example of just how her mother's English sounds and how expressive it is. I've heard other terms used, "limited English," for example. Identify the message of Tan's essay, "Mother Tongue." In "Mother Tongue," Amy Tan explains that she uses multiple "Englishes" in her daily life. What does that phrase mean to you? This could create a gap in their education "level" as you usually don't absorb much of the content if you've no clue what the teacher is saying. /Title ( M o t h e r t o n g u e q u i z l e t a n s w e r s) 15)? She says it provides imagery and emotions that standard, grammatically-correct English cannot. 22 terms. You had agreed to send the check two weeks ago, but it hasn't arrived.". "What argument is Tan making here about language and its connection to our identity in "Mother Tongue"? Tan says she uses "simple English" around her mother, and while this isn't the same form that her mother speaks, it symbolizes the bond between her and her family. defining her mother's tongue and other's interpretations of it (their reactions) -defining her interpretation, others interpretation, and how it influenced her writing structure 1st part -1-7 -awareness of the diff types of English -nature of her mother's English In the following sentence, underline each misspelled or misused word and write the correct spelling or word above the incorrect word. Explain the meaning of Tans title and how it relates to her own identity as both a Chinese American, a daughter, and a writer. Here is the text: http://www.umsl.edu/~alexanderjm/Mother%20Tongue%20by%20Tan.pdfSupport me by buying mugs, t-shirts, notebooks and more! She is just as special a person, despite what language she uses or how she uses it. "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan Flashcards | Quizlet Get started for free! There can be one tone throughout the entire piece or many different tones. For example, people with European accents may be perceived as "snooty" or "uptight", while those who speak in AAVE (African American Vernacular English) can be seen as "ghetto" or "thuggish". In Amy Tan's short story "Mother Tongue," explain the essence - eNotes However, in Amy Tan's story, I believe she is making a statement about her mother's form of English: her mother's tongue. three subjects How does Tan avoid stereotyping Asian Americans in general and Chinese in particular in this essay? Envisioning her mother as the reader allowed Tan to write with more fluidity. Consider the story "Mother Tongue." d. Her mother is the audience (reader) for The Joy Luck Club, a book about mother-and-daughter relationships. 11th Grade - Poems by Emily Dickinson: Latest answer posted March 29, 2020 at 1:00:09 PM. Students' essays will probably address slang and jargon that they use, standard English that they use for most of their school experiences, and possibly formal English that they may use with relatives or in work situations. When she's not working, she's constantly trying to expand her creativity through music, writing, art, and animation. 62-67. Her language, as I hear it, is vivid, direct, full of observation and imagery. Yet some of my friends tell me they understand 50 percent of what my mother says. 2. Get inspiration from over 500,000 example essays. What strategies does she use to make this argument? She had more difficulty answering questions presented in English class due to the nature of language, being able to be interpreted in more than one way. Genius is the ultimate source of music knowledge, created by scholars like you who share facts and insight about the songs and artists they love. Mother Tongue. The McGraw Hill Reader: Issues Across the Disciplines. The main idea of Amy Tan's "Mother Tongue" is the limitations that imperfect English can impose in society and the richness that such English can bring to writing. /AIS false Find and create gamified quizzes, lessons, presentations, and flashcards for students, employees, and everyone else. I believe that there is a play on words with the title, "Mother Tongue." "Mother Tongue" // Amy Tan Flashcards | Quizlet Students may conclude that Tan and her mother did not have a close relationship if they support this opinion with valid examples. How did railroads help boost industrialization? Mother Tongue - CR - Student Copydone 1 1 .doc - Course Hero her mother How does the author describe her mother's English early in the essay limited What incident in "Mother Tongue" makes Tan aware of the different Englishes that she speaks? How is Amy Tan's use of the phrase "mother tongue" ambiguous? Apart from what any critic had to say about my writing, I knew I had succeeded where it counted when my mother finished reading my book and gave me her verdict: "So easy to read.". As for accents, it's usually a stereotype of some sort. I cannot give you much more than personal opinions on the English language and its variations in this country or others. c. rout Do you agree that family members have the greatest effect on a child's intellectual development? In Amy Tan's "Mother Tongue," this term is a play on words. JFIF K K C When describing the wording for people who cannot speak English fluently, she makes sure the audience knows of her feelings toward the most common terms. Mother Tongue - 767 Words | Bartleby 16, Tan)". "But I have noticed in surveys in fact, just last week that Asian students, as a whole, always do significantly better on math achievement tests than in English. Finally, she wraps it up nicely with a note about how she now uses those various forms of English in her career. . . Tan says that her identity as a writer was originally separate from her identity as her mother's daughter. 291 terms. And here you would be presented with a list of four possible pairs, one of which showed the same kind of relationship: red is to stoplight, bus is to arrival, chills is to fever, yawn is to boring: Well, I could never think that way. But now you have to do a literary analysis on itand suddenly its short length seems like more of a burden than a blessing. What is the author's purpose, style, and tone in the story? Why does Tan open her essay by stating, "I am not a scholar of English or literature" but then state, in the next paragraph, "I am a writer"? (para. 10th ed. The story helps the reader understand Tan's later comments about what to call her mother's English-words like limited or broken affect people's perceptions of her mother and her mother's abilities. Why? But those scores were not good enough to override the opinion that my true abilities lay in math and science, because in those areas I achieved A's and scored in the ninetieth percentile or higher. Tan does illustrate each category she identifies 4. Because she was in a family where their home language wasn't English, her scores in English weren't as good as the ones she received in math. At one point, Tan writes about being embarrassed about her mother. I am going to show you a few of these devices and give you some awesome tips on how to incorporate them into your analysis of Mother Tongue.. /BitsPerComponent 8 How do they differ? Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt Who's the author of the story? ACCTG 205: CH 1 Vocabulary. She adores her as any other child would adore their own mom. What is the "associative situation" (para. I was giving a talk to a large group of people, the same talk I had already given to half a dozen other groups. But Tans interest in language, both as a cultural marker and as a way of expressing thought and personality, is also a prevailing theme of the novel. -7 space 17 space. So mad he lie to me, losing me money. Chinese custom. Indeed, Tan conjectures that many Asian American children are probably encouraged to pursue careers in jobs requiring maths and science rather than English for this reason. Be sure to consider the anecdotes regarding Tan giving a speech, the stockbroker, the CAT scan, and Tan's experience with the SATs. She says even her husband started speaking this kind of English together and that it has come to represent intimacy. Answers will vary widely, depending on students' personal experiences, situations, and viewpoints. /CA 1.0 ", how did amy describe her mother's english, math and science (precise and exact answers). -understand how her mom talked and how it was hard for others to understand her Amy Tan's essay "Mother Tongue" discusses the way that language changes, and the ways it stays the same, inside contexts of immigration and generational time. Mother Tongue is an essay by Amy Tan, an American author who was born to Chinese immigrants in 1952. What is Tan's strategy behind including a lengthy, direct quotation from her mother (para. What argument is Tan making here about language and its connection to our identity in "Mother Tongue"? Lately, I've been giving more thought to the kind of English my mother speaks. /CreationDate (D:20210407080443+03'00') But to me, my mother's English is perfectly clear, perfectly natural. 5. eNotes Editorial, 28 June 2020, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-argument-is-tan-making-here-about-language-2353688. Works have been adapted for film, opera, and TV mother tongue first language Whom does the author focus on in this narrative? She recognizes that her mom is in fact able to comprehend complex sentences in English, but just struggles to express herself clearly in the language. The mother tongue shapes. Here, Tan alludes to the concept of the "mother tongue": a child's earliest language, often used with a primary caregiver, who in many instances is the mother. When her mother told her that what she had written was easy to read, Tan knew that she had succeeded in her aims as a writer. And when the doctor finally called her daughter, me, who spoke in perfect English -- lo and behold -- we had assurances the CAT scan would be found, promises that a conference call on Monday would be held, and apologies for any suffering my mother had gone through for a most regrettable mistake. Sociologists and linguists probably will tell you that a person's developing language skills are more influenced by peers. Tan uses it with this definition, but also utilizes it to refer to the language her mom spoke (Chinese). Include details from the text. What are some good things Andrew Carnegie did? Because dogs are legally required to be on a leash, letting your dog run free in the park is a(n) _______. nNSm`NO8 SL6x 9 tG%rzo=>ca3`!VW19>:HmoM!>? _E nYKyrO [%eLm ii+;t9xt;md/C?dSh[`N:)$9HAJI%i2. Why? I gone to boy's side, they haveYMCA dinner. To what extent do you think that speaking a non- standardized English (through grammatical differences or an accent) "limits . Cite the text as needed to clarify and support your response. /ColorSpace /DeviceRGB It is evident that Tan wants to avoid stereotyping in her essay. In dividing the essay into sections, she is able to flow through to her points clearly and subtly. It literally means one's first language. Tan refers to how much language impacts/changes our lives. Latest answer posted March 29, 2020 at 10:08:05 AM. /Producer ( Q t 4 . Recently, I was made keenly aware of the different Englishes I do use. "In Amy Tan's short story "Mother Tongue," explain the essence of what "mother tongue" signifies in the story." This question is about the essay "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan. I've been giving more thought to the kind of English my mother speaks. A Summary and Analysis of Amy Tan's 'Mother Tongue' By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University) 'Mother Tongue' is an essay by Amy Tan, an American author who was born to Chinese immigrants in 1952. What Is the Main Idea of Amy Tan's "Mother Tongue?" - Reference.com Students in disagreement might point to Dove's consuming interest in reading, which seems largely uninfluenced by her family, and Cisneros's belief that her desire to write came from a "hunger" she felt, even with her family. When Amy gave this talk to an audience that included her mother, it caused her to reflect on the distance between the language that she uses in the world of her career and the language that she grew up with at home and still uses with her husband in the present day. $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ? d. infraction, Identify the following term or individuals and explain their significance. Why does Tan believe that envisioning a reader specifically, her mother enabled her to write more authentically? Tan calls this clipped informal language her mother tongue, because it was the first language she learned and it helped to shape the way she saw the world and made sense of it. So mad he lie to me, losing me money. And then I said in perfect English, "Yes, I'm getting rather concerned. Discuss how this is present in her writing of "Mother Tongue. Even though language is not an object you can hold, Amy Tan still uses language to symbolize different, more ambiguous concepts. Test. Why or why not? I hesitate to use the word plot in the case of Mother Tongue because it doesnt seem to have much of one, at least not in the traditional sense that most fiction stories do. Tan talks about growing up with different forms of English and how that affected both her childhood and adult life. In a short essay "Mother Tongue," Amy Tan reveals her background and describes different kinds of English that she had to speak in her childhood and adolescence. Because there are quite a few different tones in this short story, they transition from one to the other. Students are most likely to conclude that Tan and her mother do have a close relationship and should support their opinion with at least three of the following examples: a. In paragraph 6, Tan quotes part of one of her mother's conversations. "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan Flashcards | Quizlet What does the title "Mother Tongue" suggest? Tan wrote Mother Tongue in 1990, a year after her novel The Joy Luck Club was a runaway success. And my mother was standing in the back whispering loudly, "Why he don't send me check, already two weeks late. You should know that my mother's expressive command of English belies how much she actually understands. Tan is very attached to her mothers English to the point that she doesnt want to refer to it as broken. To her it symbolizes home because its the English she grew up with. The class tests at school which reduced English proficiency to an ability to recognise a correct answer are thus contrasted with Tans resounding final words of Mother Tongue, which see her seeking to capture the passion of her mother, the nature of her thoughts, and the imagery she uses: all things which her daughter has clearly inherited a respect for, and which school tests fail to capture or observe. while growing up, what assumption did Amy Tan make about her mother because of her mother's language skills? That was the language that helped shape the way I saw things, expressed things, made sense of the world. I didn't see, I heard it. She goes from being ashamed of her mothers speakingfeeling that other people will judge her familyto being proud of the rich culture behind her mothers English. What is the context of Mother Tongue? Read the excerpt from Amy Tan's essay "Mother Tongue - Brainly Writer discussed: Amy Tan's "Mother Tongue" (Link to story) Amy Tan is speaking of writing her book "Joy Luck Club" (there's a scene below), so in that sense it works as a good example of a literacy narrative in that Tan writes about writing something. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Edit. She wouldn't budge. She mentions the figure that most Asian students in schools are not enrolled in artistic courses, such as creative writing. What is similar between Tan's more contemporary version of the American Dream and the novel Of Mice and Men? She recounts a time when the doctors at the hospital were unsympathetic towards her mother when they lost the results of the CAT scan they had undertaken on her brain, but as soon as the hospital at her mothers insistence called her daughter, they issued a grovelling apology. Does the story feel complete as is? Tan explains, "This was understandable. /Subtype /Image I spend a great deal of my time thinking about the power of languagethe way it can evoke an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea, or a simple truth.. Find examples of peopleincluding Tan herselftreating her mother disrespectfully. %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz Paraphrasing her mother's words would take away from the audience's understanding of the exact type of language boundaries they were dealing with. Sample answer: Communication is more about intent than specific words and word usage. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Amy Tan also believes her mothers English affected her daughters school results. Use Tan's ideas about different kinds of English from "Mother Tongue" as a basis to consider the kinds of English you encounter every day. Mother tongue Flashcards | Quizlet How many subjects does Tan explore in the essay? Tan grew up in California and in Switzerland and studied English and linguistics at San Jose State University (B.A., 1973; M.A., 1974) and the University of California, Berkeley. Does it drag on too much? -other peoples reactions; how it affected Amy (would make calls for her mom) If raised in Italy, it is Italian; in France, it is French. Already a member? But they seem just as bad, as if everything is limited, including people's perceptions of the limited English speaker. In Amy Tan's essay "Mother Tongue", Tan reveals how she was sculpted into the successful writer she is from the struggles of language speaking her mother had to face. Why does she divide the essay into three parts? Then write an essay in which you explain the use of English in your life and communications. Amy's mother refused to leave the office until someone called her daughter. -influenced Amy's writing (four Englishes) Though Mother Tongue is a very short narrative, its rich in content. Describe what the fighting is like and what you feel are the strengths and weaknesses of your army. Students' writing should address the specific experiences and messages of the essays that they choose. spirituals. Tan notes in paragraph 21 that she thinks of her mother as her audience when she writes stories. /SA true In "Mother Tongue" why does Tan include her mother's story about the political gangster in Shanghai? Describe how others (those who do not know her intimately) see Tan's mother versus how Tan describes her in "Mother Tongue." Those tests were constructed around items like fill-in-the-blank sentence completion, such as, "Even though Tom was, Mary thought he was --. } !1AQa"q2#BR$3br Tan divides the essay into three sections. She used all of the "Englishes" she grew up with, giving her more connection to her work, and with the audience as well.

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